L-HMB tops Central Prairie

Linton-HMB improved to 4-1 in District 6 with a 56-28 victory over Central Prairie (Gackle-Streeter/ Medina-Cleveland) in Linton on Jan. 25. The Lady Lions improved to 8-3 overall on the season, while Central Prairie remained winless (0-5) in the district, and dropped to 1-11 overall.

Amber Umber, Kaidra Larson and Alex Umber each hit a pair of baskets in the opening period to help the Lady Lions open up the lead (15-7) for good by the end of the frame. The Lady Lions scored the first 8 points of the second quarter to double (23-7) the margin, and Central Prairie couldn’t get on the board until Jordan Spitzer put in a field goal with exactly 1:00 left in the half.

The Lady Lions closed out the half with a three-point play by Tiffaney Gerving, and a basket by Amber Umber to open up a 28-9 cushion at the break. Linton-HMB hit on half (13 of 26) of its field goal attempts and committed just 4 turnovers in the first half, while Central Prairie shot just 21 percent (4 of 19) from the field, 25 percent (1 of 4) from the line, and turned the ball over a dozen times (9 in the second period) in the half.

Linton-HMB scored the first 6 points of the second half, and Larson’s basket extended the margin to 25 points (34-9) with 5:25 left in the third quarter.After Jaycee Moldenhauer got Central Prairie on the board with a field goal, Linton-HMB ripped off 6 unanswered points to cap a 17-2 run, and Alex Umber’s putback gave the Lady Lions a 40-11 cushion before the midway point of the period. Linton-HMB took a 44-15 lead into the final period, and the Lady Lions opened up their biggest lead (50-17) before clearing the bench for the final 5:00 of the game.

Linton-HMB shot 47 percent (25 of 53) from the field and committed 13 turnovers, while Central Prairie hit on just 12 of 46 (26%) field goals and turned the ball over 25 times in the game. Linton-HMB had a balanced scoring attack, including three players in double figures.